I have really been wanting to improve my technical riding skills I am thinking I need to pull out the old rockhopper and put it back into action. Any better Ideas? Think this is a good idea? I'll be wearing the fanny and cotton tee of course when I do.

This will get it done and more people should do it. BTW for big drops just watch any trials video and you will see how important suspension is to land a 10' drop. It is absolutely superfluous

Interesting in that when they did take jumps it was rear wheel down to absorb the load.

That's the way we used to jump our BMX bikes. We ran 100psi in our tires for flatland (ground tricks), but would also hit jumps and drops with that much PSI, so using that old "pedal-off" trials technique helped us land a lot.

The music is as varied as the riding. I miss those days of trials riding my XC bike (which was also my everything bike). I can't trials any of my bikes very well any more because the suspension eats it all up (just like everything else).

New technology is good I believe but our dependence on it is far too great, yes.

Yep..sick. Riding 1" rigid forks, top mount shifters, canti brakes, tubes, 3x7 drivetrains, bar end, and toe clips....we don't need to stinkin' innovations! This is when I started riding...love it! Just goes to show you don't need a 10" travel bike with a dropper post to get it done.

Some of the thoughts I had while watching this were-
-They looked completely normal (for mountain bikers) at that point in time.
-I remember bringing an extra cotton t-shirt in my backpack so I could change into a dry one at the top of the climb
-those guys are badasses
-think how silly the pajama style, flat brimmed hats are gonna feel in 20 years when they see pictures of themselves, especially considering how ridiculous current fashion looks right now. I guess you could say that about people putting all that "product" in their hair to make it stand up as well.
-I never have dreams where I'm flying, but sometimes I dream I can ride a wheelie and manual like them.

So what year did helmets come to be recognized as important? This is asked as a 38 year old having worn a cycling helmet for the first time three years ago.

P

It's never too late you know. I started wearing one when I got halfway serious about the sport when I was your age.

Luck plays a role for good and bad.

1, I have a healed skull fracture from a helmetless crash onto concrete at 7 years old. Parents thought it was just a concussion and didn't bother with the hospital.

2, I know two guys who are f&*ked from a bicycle crash (dirt jumping) and MC road racing. Both were wearing helmets and both went into comas. When they came back they weren't the same guys anymore, and not for the better.